Check out the link below for an interview I did this week with Jason Wieler of OGLE Toronto:
http://ogleto.com/archives/1271
Happy to kick-off their “Fill in the Blanks” series. Here’s a question that didn’t get published:
Q. When I’m not making music, I love to: read, write, and work on my upcoming eco-friendly T-shirt line with my sister.
Happy Halloween!
Larra
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Music
Tagged: blog, jason wieler, jazz, larra skye, Music, ogle, pop, questions, singer, songwriter, toronto, vocal
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Music
Tagged: anthony michelli, band, canada, festival, jazz, larra, larra skye, linkedin, live, love, marc rogers, Music, newmarket, ontario, pop, pretty little baby, radio, rhythm, robi botos, singer, skye, songwriter, soul, toronto, toronto event
Read my answers to questions about my musical influences, songwriting, and more. For the full interview and photos, click here:
http://issuu.com/indexpressions/docs/indexp1_5
Cheers,
LS
→ 1 CommentCategories: Music
Tagged: canada, indie-musik expressions, interview, jazz, larra, larra skye, linkedin, Music, ontario, singer, songwriter, toronto
http://www.rivetingriffs.com/larra_skye_%2709.htm
Highlights:
“… another of Canada’s fine young female jazz singer / songwriters.”
“Larra Skye brings more passion to her singing, and injects more fun into her performances than another one of her peers Sophie Milman, and during her gig at the Rex the crowd quickly warmed up to, not only Skye’s music but her personable demeanor. One would think in time, if promoted correctly, Skye should eventually exceed Milman’s popularity, which is not a diss of Milman as an artist, as she has devoted fans on both sides of the Canadian – American border, but it is more a tip of the hat to Skye.”
[note from LS: I think Sophie Milman is super talented, so this comes as a huge compliment].
“The combination of Skye’s smoky vocals and pianist Dave Restivo’s solo, evoked a passionate response from the appreciative crowd.”
“In contrast to her sultry vocals on “All Or Nothing At All,” Skye’s phrasing was both tender and romantic as she performed her original piece “Turn Up The Stars,” from her The World Disappears CD. Skye sang the lines “Sweep me off my feet / If you say that you love me / Say it’s forever,” with authenticity.”
“There is an appropriate line in “Whisper A Secret,” also from Skye’s album, “The smoky jazz groove hits me like a heartbeat,” that accurately describes her vocals as she accompanied herself on acoustic guitar, while singing the love letter. Larra Skye’s ability to permit herself to be vulnerable in front of her audience, allows those who are in love to remember why, and creates a yearning among those who are not.”
“Larra Skye was also believable and reflective, as though she were recalling personal memories, while covering The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life.” She was accompanied only by her pianist, as they presented a stripped down version of the song that she first performed on CIUT Radio in Toronto, two years ago, during a tribute to The Beatles.”
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Music
Tagged: jazz, joe montague, larra, larra skye, Music, review, rex, riveting riffs, skye, sophie milman, toronto, toronto event, vocal
It’s quarter to ten on a Sunday morning and as I’m typing this, I’m wondering why I’m up so early!
Last night my band and I performed at the Rex Jazz & Blues Bar, on Queen Street in Toronto. The Rex has been around forever, and attracts jazz fans and tourists, young and old, casual or dressy. It’s always nice to see who comes to the shows. I meet people from the UK, South America, Japan… Calgary – and of course plenty of Torontonians.
I love playing music live on stage. Even doing the jazz/pop original music that we play, there is so much improvisation that goes on – trading scat with the saxophonist (Luis), changing endings to the songs, switching up the feel of a tune and going with the ‘vibe’ – y’know? It rejuvenates me and puts me in high spirits. To quote a favourite UK soul tune – “there’s nothing like this”!
Here are some photos of the Larra Skye Quintet, Saturday July 25th at the Rex. All photos taken by the masterful Greg King.
Thank you to those who filled the room and listened.
LS
→ 3 CommentsCategories: Music · Uncategorized
Tagged: 2009, club, greg king, jazz, larra, larra skye, linkedin, Music, rex, skye, toronto, toronto event
Last week I played two shows – one was with pianist extraordinaire Dave Restivo at the Sutton Place Hotel. The view was amazing and the hors d’oeuvres even better. We played two sets for the Hot Docs crowd gathered there. Party was thrown by Henge Productions from St. John’s — here is a link to their awesome trailer, ‘Where’s My Goat’?
I’m writing this blog entry as a break from moving vinyl records around the apartment. That’s how it goes when you live with a hiphop DJ. And the records keep coming in the mail.. week after week.. after week…
Here are some recent photos, on the town and in performance:
With Devo Brown (Flow 93.5) and Cabbie (The Score). A Gutsy Affair Fundraiser Gala, April 2009. Nice fellows.
At the Rex with my band, April 2009. Photo: Greg King. Vintage dress bought at Penny Arcade on Dundas, near Ossington. Amazing shop.
With Rich Underhill at Ten Feet Tall, January 2009. Clothing by JUMA.
I also did some product shot modelling in March for my friends at JUMA. See if you can find me on their site. Here is a link to their online catalogue:
All photos of me by Mario Bilusev, 2009.
March 2009. Clothing by JUMA. (Sorry, didn't know how to rotate).
In other news, I’ve started singing backups in a country/blues/rock band — I’m hoping to perform in Europe in the fall — and I’m still studying classical music to round it all out.
Enjoy your day & thanks for reading,
Larra
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Photos
Tagged: larra skye, Music, juma, clothing, ten feet tall, greg king, rex, cabbie, devo brown, gutsy affair, linkedin
Hi,
As many of you know, last year I participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, and raised over $3,300 for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. It was a great journey, and this year, I am happy to have a new charity and cause to support.
On June 14th at Sunnybrook Park, I’ll be participating in the 2009 Toronto Heel ‘n’ Wheel-a-Thon to raise money for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC). The CCFC is a national not-for-profit voluntary medical research Foundation, whose mission is to find the cure for inflammatory bowel disease.
This cause is very important to me because I have many friends who have to face this disease every day, and I know that the CCFC is a great charity that donates over 80% of funds raised to medical research. I have set my goal at $2,500 for this year, and hope to surpass with your support! Sponsoring me is easy – just click on the ePledge link below and follow the prompts.
To make your secure online pledge, please click on the link below.
If you have trouble viewing this link, cut and paste the following address into your browser:
https://secure.ccfcfindthecure.ca/ParticipantPage.aspx?PID=5387&L=2&CCID=60&GC=GTv2
An electronic tax receipt will be sent to you by e-mail as soon as your donation is processed.
Thank you for your generous support.
P.S. – Anyone is welcome to participate in the Heel ‘n’ Wheel-a-Thon, so feel free to forward this link on to other people you know who may be interested in joining us in our fight to find the cure!
Have a lovely weekend,
Larra Skye Baker 
(next show is Sat Jul 25 at the Rex with full band)
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Uncategorized
Tagged: colitis, crohn's, donate, fundraiser, heel 'n' wheel-a-thon, june 14, sunnybrook park, toronto
I’ve started singing in German. (But don’t expect a Larra Skye original song in the language just yet.)
Sometime in 2008, I was looking around for a vocal coach on the world wide web, and found one that seemed to be reputable and all that good stuff. I arranged an appointment in Toronto. I won’t go into the details, but let me tell you that it was one of the weirdest experiences in my life. And weird in a bad way. Once my hour-long “lesson” was over and I high-tailed it out of there, I got to thinking. Maybe it was time to look for technical training in the most obvious of places — the Royal Conservatory of Music.
I only intended at first to take a few lessons as a refresher course. But now after finding the right teacher, I am sold! I’ve even enrolled myself in a grade level exam. So nice to be a student in something again.
Here is one of the songs I will be singing, in German. I found this great YouTube clip and it’s actually in the same key that I will be performing in. The song is Schubert’s ‘An den mond’ (Song to the Moon):
Learning German has been quite a ride so far. I don’t know the language, so memorizing the words is done by sound association for me. Lots of listening and fine-tuning to correct my pronunciation. At first I was hesitant, but I’m so glad I accepted the challenge — it’s proving to be a lot more fun than I expected!
The other song I’m singing is so gorgeous lyrically, with sensitive, modern music to match. Here are the words, by the famous Robert Louis Stevenson. The music is composed by Winifred Bury, but I can’t find anything online to post here.
I will make you brooches and toys for your delight Of bird-song at morning and star-shine at night. I will make a palace fit for you and me Of green days in forests and blue days at sea. I will make my kitchen, and you shall keep your room, Where white flows the river and bright blows the broom, And you shall wash your linen and keep your body white In rainfall at morning and dewfall at night. And this shall be for music when no one else is near, The fine song for singing, the rare song to hear! That only I remember, that only you admire, Of the broad road that stretches and the roadside fire.
Have a great long weekend, Larra
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Music
Tagged: an den mond, classical, german, i will make you brooches, larra, Music, royal conservatory, schubert, singing, skye, voice lessons, winifred bury
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Food
Tagged: day, jule's patisseries, love, valentine's, yummy
Today, I was strolling on St. Clair and listening to this song by the great French band Noir Desir:
… and I noticed that the man walking ahead of me was walking in time to the beat of their song! My music wasn’t very loud so there’s no way he could hear what I was listening to. It was just a coincidence that he happened to be marching like a soldier to my favourite French band.
I started walking faster so that I was walking right behind him, and over the sound of my headphones, I could hear his footsteps hitting the pavement, adding to the backbeat of my song. He turned the corner after a minute, and I nearly followed him in my distraction. He didn’t miss a beat!
I don’t know about other musicians, but I think loving something too much (like music) can cause these quirks and quarks. Where you pick up on things that they rest would dismiss as part of a normal day.
Here are my top three music nerd admissions:
1. Sometimes I harmonize with the vacuum – it’s like a bluegrass song. The vacuum does two parts and I add the third.
2. There’s a little ditty that I hear on the subway, three notes that they play before a TTC announcement. It sounds like the opening to my song ‘Make Believe’, and I have to refrain from breaking into song in front of my fellow passengers…
3. I beatbox in time with the turn signals when I’m in a car and waiting for the light to change…
What’s your music nerd moment?
With fellow music nerd and close friend C.C.
→ Leave a CommentCategories: Music
Tagged: larra skye, Music, nerd, noir desir, rhythm, time
